Page 113 - Ranged Weapon News Today

You know, shotgun here." they were goin nuts. >> reporter: there was the mossberg in the tall grass, about 20 yards from the back door of the trailer. boy, that was a huge development in that case. >> it was. i think everyones, you know, mood doubled or tripled when they found that gun. >> reporter: ballistics would later match the mossberg with the slug that killed the pregnant lisa. investigators could fill in one big box on their checklist -- murder weapon. next, they worked on possible motiv...

Entire investigation. cause this is the big part of your case in trial three. jurors, youre seein some really shabby police work here in terms of investigation? >> it fell right into our theme, to our theory of the case. >> reporter: testimony in the >> reporter: testimony in the third trial, streamlined by both sides, took half the time the others did. that was another part of the new defense teams revised strategy. thered already been five holdout jurors in the previous two trials. now todd ca...

Grief. it was a tragedy, but for lisas dad, he was sure he knew who the killer was. a neighbor with a gun and a grudge. >> i thought they better get to him before i do. some said this couple was having trouble, and that seth had a secret others said that the real murder was someone else right under cops noses. a case unfolding on camera that would test three families and take one final twist. >> that the biggests.

Had a hung jury before, were now o for 2. again, the state didnt hesitate. seth techel would go on trial for a third time. >> our intent is to retry it. that was an easy decision to make. >> reporter: even though the jurys vote was again in favor of conviction, this time nine to three -- lisas family was starting to have its doubts. >> is there something that im just overlooking? like did he not do it? is there something that they just see and theyre like -- hes not guilty? >> reporter: but just...

It for fingerprints or dna that might link it to the shooter? >> did you test the bullet that was in the chamber that killed this woman? no, we forgot, or we didnt do it. >> reporter: whoops. >> whoops. >> reporter: the new defense team had a new story to tell -- it was all a rush to judgment to blame seth, whod been in jail ever since his arrest two years earlier. and there was another big strategic shift. they would soften the focus on the boogeyman of the first two trials -- brian tate. >> ou...

Would just tell everybody that shes the best parts of me. >> reporter: the prosecution had the burden of proving the charges, first degree murder and nonconsensual termination of a pregnancy. what did you think your strongest fact was going forward, strongest part of your story for a jury? >> probably the most important single piece of evidence was the shotgun. >> reporter: ballistics showed this mossberg 12-gauge was the murder weapon, a firearm that seth kept inside his house, and only he had ...

Hes going downtown, hes about to be charged. >> yep. i couldnt understand it. we wouldnt ever dream or ever understand that it could be him. >> reporter: seths dream was to drive a sheriffs car as a deputy. but now the wannabe cop was cuffed, riding in the back seat, and about to be charged with the murder of his wife. seth techel goes on trial. but before it even starts, the prosecution suffers a major blow. >> bad for us, great for them. >> then a clue changes everything. >> i believe it to be...

Forth. >> he kissed me, but it never led into anything else. he just used to tell me i love you. thats about it. >> reporter: it sounds like they were making out rather than having sex. >> yeah, yes. thats correct. >> he always used to tell me how pretty i was and how hed like to be with me. but i always made it clear that he is married and has a wife, and hes having a baby, and i dont wreck families. >> reporter: rachel told the investigators the seth she knew couldnt be a murderer. >> would it...

Logic. >> he would have to be the victim of one of the largest coincidences ever known. and that is he told his girlfriend that he left his wife. and a little less than 17 hours later, some unknown assailant breaks into his house and kills the wife that he is -- says hes gonna leave. >> with a weapon which he hasnt brought with him. >> correct. with a weapon which he hasnt brought with him. >> i had a mossberg model 500 shotgun. >> a 12 gauge. >> yes. >> reporter: and seth, prosecutors said, had...

Terry has confided in you? >> yes. >> according to rod, terry made a full confession. >> he tells him everything. he tells him how he snuck in. >> he tripped the garage door and thought he was busted then but got underneath the guys [ bleep ] truck. >> terry told rod don was a smoker whose routine was to smoke in the garage. so he waited for don to come out. >> he said i got up. i was waiting right there by the door. >> rod said terry then described in gruesome detail inside the garage away from...